Explanations For The Success And Failure Of Dieting Flashcards
What is the boundary model explanation for failure of dieting?
A cognitive boundary is set at a lower level to our bio boundary for meal size. The cog boundary is passed and can lead to binging with the ‘what the hell’ effect - paradoxical outcome of failure to diet and ironic mental processes. Restricting food and forming forbidden foods means food is prominent in mind so we think more about it and denied foods look better. This makes dieting harder and can trigger disinhibited eating.
What is the hedonic eating explanation for failure of dieting?
Dieters may be more vulnerable to hedonism (pleasure) of eating. They associate food strongly w potential for reward and pleasure. Their cog processes are directed towards the goal of gaining pleasure from eating and this dominates thoughts about dieting and food intake. The dieter focuses on the desire to eat and finds concentrating on controlling food intake difficult.
Evaluate explanations for failure of dieting.
S - researchers gave dieters as non dieters either a high kcal or low kcal snack. They were told they were taking part in a food preferences study but were actually assessed on how much food they ate. Non dieters ate less after high kcal foods but dieters ate more after high kcal preload. Research shows lack of glycogen = lack of concentration and lack of concentration = unsuccessful dieting.
C - restraint theory too simplistic. Dieters consumes fewer cals but higher fat meaning link between restraint and dieting isn’t as simple as thought. Theory also ignored biological reasoning - body set weight theory suggests we are biologically determined to maintain a set weight.
I - gender bias. Research is gynocentric and suggests being overweight is detrimental to men’s health, so research into men might be more important.
Describe paying attention to food as an explanation for successful dieting.
Says the dieter should focus fully on what they’re eating and specific characteristics of food. Suggests they shouldn’t eat in front of TV or even hold a conversation. Individuals most likely to over eat when paying attention to something else. Paying attention helps reduce boredom with diet foods.
Describe enlisting social support as an explanation for the success of dieting.
Considerable psychological challenges w dieting overcome w support from friends and family to encourage and reward continuation of diet. Dieting organisations like weight watches encourage social support through weekly meetings.
Describe having achievable targets as an explanation for the success of dieting.
It is important that individuals set realistic goals in an appropriate time frame. A series of easy attainable short term goals enables the dieter to have regular opportunities to be rewarded by increasing motivation to continue the diet.
Evaluate explanations for successful dieting.
S - 135 people given 22 jelly beans one at a time. As each was given info was shown on a screen. Findings showed people given more detailed info eg cherry flavoured bean 7, enjoyed them more than those given less detailed info. Weight watchers found to be better than individual dieting plans over 2 years.
C - research may be invalid because evidence comes from eg personal accounts of dieters and retrospective data, no cause and effect
I - ignores biology. Some people find it easier to lose weight than others eg those without the gene for LPL may find it easier to keep weight off. Those with the LPL gene store fat more efficiently.
P - designing diets.
